Title:Use of Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence: A Retrospective Study Conducted in 2011-2012
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
Author(s): Roberta Agabio*, Silvia Balia, Gian Luigi Gessa and Pier Paolo Pani
Affiliation:
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Cagliari, Sardinia,Italy
Keywords:
Alcohol Dependence (AD), craving, pharmacotherapy, acamprosate, naltrexone, disulfiram, gamma-hydroxybutyrate.
Abstract:
Background: Pharmacotherapy for Alcohol Dependence (AD) is underutilized. Barriers
preventing the use of AD medications include high prices, lack of access to prescribing physicians,
and a limited number of available medications.
Objective: The study evaluated the use of AD medications in a sample of Italian outpatients who received
these medications free of charge, had access to physicians during office hours, and for
whom substitution therapy [gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)] was available. We also evaluated the
rate of patients who received a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments
among participants who were still drinking.
Methods: SCID for AD and questionnaire were filled by to AD outpatients during a face-to-face interview.
Results & Discussion: 345 AD outpatients were interviewed: 58.8% were currently receiving at
least one AD medication (GHB: 34.3%, disulfiram: 29.6%, acamprosate: 5.9%; naltrexone: 2.5%;
more than one medication: 16.7%). Less than 30% of participants who were still drinking, received
a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments. Nonetheless, we found
higher use of AD medications compared to previous studies conducted in other countries. This
higher use of AD medications may be due to access to free medications, prescribing physicians’
style, and a larger number of available medications.
Conclusion: Our results confirm the underutilization of AD medications, as less than 60% of AD
outpatients received medications, and less than 30% of those who were still drinking, received a
combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments. These findings may be useful
in improving our knowledge of the barriers that prevent the use of AD medications in clinical
practice.
